Politics

WINTER HARBOR — Billy Bob Faulkingham, a selectman from Winter Harbor, has entered the race for state representative in District 136 as a Republican. Fellow Winter Harbor Selectman Kylie Bragdon entered the race as a Democrat in late 2017. “It came as a surprise to me that she was running because this was a few …

BUCKSPORT — Governor Paul LePage has appointed Bucksport Town Manager Susan Lessard to the Maine Board of Environmental Protection. Lessard announced the news at the Jan. 25 Bucksport Town Council meeting. “The Environment and Natural Resources Committee yesterday approved the nomination from the Governor and the Senate voted to confirm the nomination today,” Lessard said …

ELLSWORTH — The federal government’s plan to allow drilling for oil off the coast of Maine has emerged from seeming oblivion. Last April, President Donald Trump issued an executive order outlining what was described as an “America-First Offshore Energy Strategy.” Soon afterward, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke ordered the federal Bureau of Ocean …

GOULDSBORO — Going into the second year of Donald Trump’s presidency, activists across Maine — and across the country — are organizing for a renewed and focused purpose: getting women into positions of political power. Marking the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, organizers of last year’s Women’s March are hosting marches this year under the …

ELLSWORTH — The Hancock County Democratic Committee’s January meeting will focus on preparations for the 2018 elections. The meeting will include presentations from candidates for governor and the Second Congressional District, as well as the Clean Election process and the upcoming March 4 Democratic caucuses. The meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 …

ELLSWORTH — In a move that has created angst for state and local officials, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week rescinded hands-off Obama-era guidance on prosecutors’ handling of marijuana cases. The move by the Attorney General comes as the state continues to craft legislation after voters approved a 2016 measure legalizing retail sales. At …

ELLSWORTH — Percy L. Brown Jr. has announced his candidacy for re-election for Hancock County commissioner in District II, which includes Bucksport, Verona Island, Orland, Dedham, Penobscot, Castine, Brooksville, Brooklin, Sedgwick, Deer Isle and Stonington. Brown, who is presently serving his fourth term, said county government needs to examine new ways to provide county services …

ELLSWORTH — The January meeting of the Hancock County Republicans will be at Ellsworth City Hall at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. At this meeting, important caucus information will be distributed. Whether you are a town or city chairman or interested in understanding the caucus process, you are strongly urged to come. The February …

ELLSWORTH — The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Marine Resources will meet next Wednesday for hearings on three bills aimed at fine-tuning the state’s commercial fishing license system. One bill, LD1652, would allow the Department of Marine Resources to set up a limited entry system for shrimp fishermen in any year when the Atlantic States Marine …